Blackburn with Darwen Local Leaders of Education Personal Profiles

Andrea Batley, Executive Head teacher Longshaw Community Infant School & Longshaw Nursery School

Crosby Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3NF

LAESTAB Number: 889/2013 and 889/1022

Experience

I am an experienced and enthusiastic Headteacher of a triple intake infant school, which is situated in a challenging area with high levels of disadvantage and SEN. I am passionate about giving children the best start in education in order to enable them to develop a love of learning and overcome barriers within their lives. This philosophy has driven our school improvement over the past four years and seen our results rise to be consistently above National Average in reading, writing and mathematics. This has been achieved through developing a broad curriculum that values sport, art and music and focuses on whole staff understanding of behaviour management, targeted intervention and accurate assessment.

I have worked with other Headteachers to identify strengths and areas for improvement within our schools and I work with other Headteachers to lead the Putting Heads Together training, which identifies and supports future leaders.

I am currently working with a local nursery school as the Executive Headteacher to support them to move out of a category through focused school improvement, developing policies and mentoring staff.

Areas of Expertise

 Developing an effective behaviour management strategy across a school  Using data effectively through consistent tracking and monitoring  Leadership development  Creating an effective curriculum  Safeguarding  Building relationships within a school

Andrea Thomson, Head teacher St Mary & St Joseph’s RC Primary School

Bennington Street, Blackburn, BB2 3HP

LAESTAB Number: 889/3508

Experience

I have taught mainly in Upper Key Stage 2 although I did a stint in Early Years, which I loved. This has given me the experience in seeing how children progress and learn from Reception to Year 6. I was Deputy Head at St Mary & St Joseph’s RC Primary School for 2 years before being promoted to Acting Head in September 2008. I took up the substantial post of Head teacher in 2012 and developed a strong SLT.

I take pride in developing my staff in numerous ways, playing on their strengths to ensure the best outcomes for children.

Through my work with the Diocese, I have mentored numerous new Head teachers and provided pastoral visits. I am always keen to look for creative and exciting ways to help children learn and to ensure that their time with us is a positive and memorable journey.

Areas of Expertise

 Creativity in the curriculum  Maths  Developing Staff  Mentoring and coaching

Andrew Embley-Peers, Headteacher Colne Christ Church CE Primary School

Bent Lane, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 7AA

LAESTAB Number: 888/3325

o Experience

I have worked in three different schools in Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire and have almost 20 years’ experience in primary education. My leadership experience started when becoming a Key Stage 2 leader and then SENCO before taking up a Deputy Headteacher post.

In 2006, I took up my first Headship at a small church school on the Fylde coast. In January 2009, I moved to my current post as Headteacher of Colne Christ Church CE Primary School. This is a one-form entry school on the edge of Colne.

I have experience of supporting school improvement in a number of schools since 2013, both as an Associate Headteacher and Executive Headteacher. My work has included supporting leadership at all levels.

I also worked for the Lancashire MIT (Monitoring and Intervention Team) and CIDARI Multi Academy Trust providing school improvement support.

I am currently Chair of the Colne Schools Cluster and Pendle Church Schools Network. I also have experience of being a governor in other schools where I have held the position of Vice Chair of Governors and been Chair of Finance and Staffing. In addition, I am a member of Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Resources, Finance and School Buildings Committee.

Christ Church School was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in its short inspection in January 2018. The inspection report stated “You have a very clear vision about what you want to achieve and have worked with passion and resolve to ensure that the school continues to be good. You know the school and community extremely well and you are held in high regard by staff, parents and carers alike”.

Christ Church School was rated ‘outstanding’ in its most recent SIAMS inspection in November 2017. The report stated “In this school, pupils are the priority and Christian love is at the heart of all decisions. The headteacher has a very clear and consistent vision for the school’s Christian distinctiveness”.

Areas of Expertise

 Improving whole school teaching and learning to raise attainment.  Developing leadership capacity and accountability at different levels.  Safeguarding lead

Belinda Haigh, Head teacher St Gabriel’s CE Primary School

Wilworth Crescent, Blackburn BB1 8QN

LAESTAB Number: 889/3467

Experience

I was once told never to see my school as my own, but to see myself as a custodian of it. I believe that to be true. I’m here to both serve and to lead; and in leading I need a vision!

The vision is paramount. The vision to get results, to motivate and inspire both staff and children, to lead by example and provide something beyond the academic. I believe the greatest gift we can give children is self- belief. It impacts everything. Achievement feeds the confidence to keep on achieving but personal success and self-belief cannot be given or awarded. They have to be earned through opportunities presented and seized. This is where balance in the curriculum needs to focus – on presenting opportunities for children to truly achieve, feel fulfilled and acquire self-worth. For teachers, these are opportunities planned. For leaders, these are opportunities encouraged and facilitated.

Schools strive toward success. The academic measures can sometimes be elusive and are always challenging, in some schools more than others. Vision in leadership is not a panacea but is an essential element from which all other actions, initiatives and priorities are cascaded. I have not always got things right, but honest evaluation is the essential part of a journey toward greater effectiveness.

I have been Head at St Gabriel’s CE Primary since 2004, having joined as the Deputy the previous year. We are a strong and forthright church school and the staff are a fabulous team.

Areas of Expertise

 Visioning  Church school distinctiveness  Data/assessments  School improvement initiatives

Carolyn Morris, Head teacher St Thomas’ Church of England Primary School

Newton Street, Blackburn, BB1 1NE

LAESTAB Number: 889/3002

Experience

My name is Carolyn Morris and I am Headteacher of St Thomas’ Church of England Primary School, a large 3-11 through school.

The driving force throughout my career has always been to give pupils the best possible opportunities to ensure that they achieve the best they can. Everything we do is about making a difference for the young people we work with.

I work with a dedicated team of people who all go ‘the extra mile’ to prepare our pupils for a new tomorrow within our Christian values and principles.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with teachers and leaders to improve outcomes for pupils. I believe that strong leadership leads to effective school improvement. I am focused on recognising leadership potential in others and giving opportunities for them to flourish and develop.

I began my career in the Middle School sector in North London. I moved into Blackburn and had a number of roles in the Primary Sector including, leading PE, ICT and Maths. I moved to St Thomas’ initially as Deputy Headteacher and then in 2002 became the substantive Headteacher.

I have worked on the NSCL International programmes where I have worked with groups of Headteachers from across the country developing leadership capacity. After a period of study and research I then facilitated their international study visits. Destinations included America, India and South Africa. This enabled me to support the leaders implement change in their own schools on their return.

I have been seconded from St Thomas’ four times to support different schools as a system leader; 2 of them who required improvement and 2 to support capacity within leadership teams. This allowed me to focus on school improvement, professional development and teaching and learning. I successfully supported the leadership and mentored leadership teams and staff.

Currently I lead our School Improvement Group and am committed to school leaders collaborating to secure school improvement. I work closely with our group where the sharing of good practice and ideas at all levels is key. This has been highly effective within our group.

I believe in teamwork and being a role model as a school leader. As a LLE, I look forward to working with colleagues in this way.

Areas of Expertise

 School Improvement  Leadership and management  Monitoring and evaluation  Data/Assessment  Teaching and Learning

Claire Greenway- Head teacher St James’ CE Primary School

Devonport Way, Chorley. Lancashire. PR6 0TE

LAESTAB Number: 888/3397

Experience

It has been a privilege to be head teacher of St. James’ CE Primary School for 9 years. The school has moved from ‘satisfactory’ to ‘good’ through two separate Ofsted inspections. During this time, I have supported the development of teachers, learning support assistants and subject leaders who have then taken on more senior roles within the school and beyond. The school has been transformed in all areas of teaching and learning. Before this time, I was DHT for 8 years in an area of high deprivation within Wigan. I have experience of teaching in all three phases of the school and taught Year 6 in three separate schools and led within Early Years. I have worked within three different local authorities.

As a school, we have developed our own bespoke curriculum and pupils benefit from a wealth of opportunities, visits out, visitors in and extracurricular activities. I strongly believe in a curriculum, which is exciting, relevant and motivating for learners. I will not compromise in ensuring that all pupils have an enriched educational curriculum. Our school keeps abreast of current research and innovation and I will reflect on practice and policy to ensure that it really works for our children.

Working within strong partnerships at both local and national level is essential to keep outward looking, to reflect on my own leadership practise and to share my skills and expertise with others. I co-ordinate joint training events, curriculum and moderation meetings for staff at all levels, across our cluster of 14 schools. The cluster also completes school reviews and I respect and value such peer support. I have supported a number of head teachers new to post both informally and at the request of the local authority.

I have a real passion for education and am highly motivated to ensure that education makes a real positive different to developing every child within our care: academically, socially and spiritually.

Areas of Expertise

 Developing & sustaining vision  Curriculum  Teaching & learning  Safeguarding  Church school distinctiveness

Dawn Forshaw Executive Principal

The Olive School, Preston

London House, Primrose Hill, Preston, PR1 4BX

LAESTAB Number: 888/2004

Experience

After a teaching career spent working exclusively in areas of high social deprivation, I am passionate about the capacity of outstanding education to transform lives.

I have worked in both the maintained sector and in free schools. My first headship school was a joint Anglican & Methodist primary school. My second post saw me opening a new Christian faith secondary school, which taught its non-core subjects via projects, with inter-departmental teaching. I moved back to the primary phase to open a new Islamic primary school in Bolton, before being transferred within the MAT to lead the Preston school, where I am currently Executive Principal. The experience of working in an Islamic faith school has given me a great deal of insight into overcoming barriers when working with the families of children for whom English is not their first language. Since opening two years ago, both schools have achieved outstanding results, far in excess of national averages, for children achieving GLD at the end of EYFS; the Year 1 phonics screening test and the end of KS1 statutory assessments.

I have experience working as SENCo, assessment lead and curriculum lead. I have worked as a system leader, providing support to a number of schools working in challenging settings and I really enjoy working collaboratively with other senior leaders to find innovative solutions to challenging situations.

Areas of Expertise

 Effective use of data to improve pupil outcomes  Improving whole school teaching and learning  Securing outstanding outcomes for pupils with EAL  Leading faith schools  Developing a coaching culture

Dean Logan, Head teacher and CEO, Achievement through Collaboration Witton Park Academy

Buncer Lane, Blackburn, BB26TD

LAESTAB Number: 889/4048

Experience

I have wide-ranging leadership experience as a senior leader and headteacher in middle and secondary schools. My expertise has been gained in eight schools and five local authorities in the north-west and midlands.

I have been involved in work to support other MATs and schools in the region and have been part of setting up a new MAT.

Expertise includes staff restructuring and re-organisation. Developing new curriculum design and curriculum models with a clear rationale for the body of knowledge pupils should acquire. These measures have led to improved outcomes for pupils and recognition via the SSAT’s Framework for Exceptional Education in; principled curriculum design, engagement with key stakeholders, effective learning behaviours and leadership through a moral purpose.

Very important to the success of pupils and staff is the approach to emotional health and wellbeing and understanding how this impacts positively on sustainable school improvement.

Areas of Expertise

 Curriculum  Learning teaching and assessment  Leadership  Outcomes for disadvantaged pupils  Behaviour management  Professional development  Inspection framework

Debbie Withey, Head teacher Brookhouse Primary School

Troy Street, Blackburn, BB1 6NY

LAESTAB Number: 889/2823

Experience Having held senior leadership positions in several schools across the country, I became Headteacher at Brookhouse Primary School in 2011. As an experienced Headteacher, I have supported a number of school leaders, new to Headship, with school evaluation and improvement planning in order to identify strengths and whole school priorities. In addition, I have facilitated the formation and development of senior leadership teams for schools in a range of contexts in order to build leadership capacity and secure positive outcomes for pupils.

I am passionate about supporting schools to deliver excellence in teaching and learning and believe that partnership and collaboration through school-to-school support are integral in terms of driving school improvement in today’s context. As part of this, I have been a lead facilitator for the delivery of the National College’s NPQ programmes for three years and as such, have contributed towards the development of many middle and senior leaders across the North West.

Areas of Expertise

 Building leadership capacity  Systems and processes  Data analysis  Developing effective school governance  Teaching & learning

Diane Atkinson, Executive Head teacher Blackburn Central High School and Crosshill School

Haslingden Road, Blackburn BB2 3HJ

LAESTAB Number: 889/4799 and 889/7003

Experience

I have been the Head of Blackburn Central High School for five years and the Executive Head of Crosshill Special School for 3 years. I am incredibly proud to lead both schools, both of which have recently had good Ofsted judgements.

I have a passion for raising standards for all children regardless of background, need or prior attainment along with developing and growing staff into leaders and outstanding practitioners.

I have considerable change management experience having developed and established a new school, bringing three schools together in one building and developing an integrated community. I am proud that some of this has been recognised nationally by the Department of Ministry and Housing in their Integrated Strategies Green Paper.

I have a wealth of experience as teacher and leader in six secondary schools, including two years as an Authority maths consultant where I supported 10 schools. A senior leader in three different schools all with a significant proportion of disadvantaged students.

I have experience of teaching and leading both in mainstream and special schools including education of students with special educational needs; physical or sensory impairment and SEMH. I have significant School improvement track record. Developing teaching and learning, the curriculum, implementing effective tracking and assessment systems developing staffing structures for mainstream and for special schools.

As a Head teacher, I have experience of whole school peer reviews. I have supported a number of schools as a system leader to review teaching and learning, develop quality assurance systems, coach new leaders and develop staffing structures.

Areas of Expertise

 School Improvement – Raising standards  Leadership  Inclusion within mainstream  SEND  EAL  Community engagement  Curriculum pathways  Coaching and mentoring  Developing staffing structures and recruitment  Consultancy and coaching

Elizabeth Shears, Head teacher Turncroft Nursery

Highfield Road, Darwen, BB3 2DN

LAESTAB Number: 889/1039

Experience

Over the last 25 years, I have developed a sound understanding of how children learn through play during their formative years and how to provide rich and engaging experiences, which nurture creative and critical thinking.

I have predominately taught in the EYFS and KS1 in the boroughs of Bury, Lancashire and BwD. In 2001, following two deputy headships I commenced the role of Early Years Advisory Teacher/Area Senco and later became Early Years Consultant in the School Improvement Service in BwD. I have vast strategic experience of working with the LA, Headteachers, Deputies, Early Years Leaders, Managers and Children’s Centre Leaders. I have established a variety of early years focused meetings, embedded quality assurance schemes and deployed Early Years ASTs as well as providing bespoke training for schools and settings.

During the last 8 years as Nursery Headteacher, I have led my school through two Section 5, and one Early Years Ofsted inspections; all were rated outstanding. I have mentored Headteachers new to the role and those working towards their NPQH. More recently, I led a year-long Early Years Improvement project on behalf of the TEAM alliance which focused on raising attainment in mathematics and reading through focusing on the Characteristics of Effective Learning. I am passionate about ensuring all children have access to high quality learning experiences, which motivate, inspire and challenge through appropriate adult interactions with quality first teaching at their core. It is essential that we as leaders get this right from the very outset to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and their families.

Areas of expertise

 Providing an effective indoor/outdoor learning environment  Reflecting on the quality of EYFS practice and auditing provision  Strategic action planning for improvement  Ensuring statutory requirements for the EYFS are fulfilled  Observation, assessment and planning in the EYFS  Understanding the characteristics of effective learning  Recording children’s achievements effectively through learning journeys  Tracking children’s learning and moderating judgements  Understanding of the importance of using Early Years pupil premium effectively and auditing provision  Supporting staff new to EYFS and those staff leading EYFS practice  NPQH Mentor

Gillian Crompton, Head teacher Shadsworth Infant School

Rothesay Road, Blackburn BB1 2EL

LAESTAB Number: 889/2167

Experience

I have been Head Teacher at Shadsworth Infant School for 5 years. Year on year our data shows a continuous improving trend, having significantly improved attainment over time across the curriculum, particularly in Reading, Writing and Maths.

Shadsworth Infant School is situated in an area of high social deprivation with 56% children claiming Pupil Premium Grant and 52% of children having Special Educational Needs. I have experience of teaching and learning for 20 years throughout EYFS and KS1.

Prior to becoming a Head Teacher, I worked 5 years within Blackburn with Darwen School Improvement team leading improvement in English with a particular focus on reading. I also worked within Lancashire and Bolton Local Authorities raising attainment. During this time, I remained an active part of the Senior Leadership team continuing to deliver continuous improvement within my own school.

I have an MA in Literacy Learning and Literacy Difficulties and am a Qualified SENDCO. Over the 5 years as Head teacher, I have been involved in successful school-to-school support, helping local schools embed tracking and assessment systems and working on pupil progress.

Our EYFS lead is also an SLE for EYFS and LA EYFS Moderator. I have a Year 2 teacher who is a Key Stage 1 moderator for the Local Authority.

Areas of Expertise

 Teaching & Learning EYFS  Teaching & Learning KS1  SEND  Assessment & Tracking  Leadership  Growth Mindset  Raising attainment with high PPG  Sustaining Rapid whole school improvement  Governance

Jenny Hetherington, Headteacher Shadsworth Junior School

Arran Avenue, Blackburn, BB1 2ET

LAESTAB Number: 889/2168

Experience

I have been a Headteacher for 16 years and during that time have led three very different primary schools from large inner city London schools to my current two form entry Junior School. We hold National Flagship Status for Inclusion which we are all very proud of because it recognises the hard work of each individual in the school.

I have successfully led three Ofsted Inspections as a Headteacher and numerous others as a Deputy Headteacher and class teacher. Each experience has been very different but we have risen to the challenge and been successful on each occasion.

Mt current school is very challenging with a high percentage of SEN, PP and FSM. However, our SAT results and in year data has risen year on year and we are now at National Average and sometime just above! Considering our low baseline – this is a real achievement.

Many of our children come from backgrounds where drink, drugs and domestic violence is commonplace. We therefore, offer a range of interventions, two nurture rooms and a strong PSHCE curriculum in order that these children are ready for learning and can succeed.

I work with an amazing team of teachers and support staff and have a very strong, experienced SLT. This has been developed over my time at the school. We have a very strong ethos at our school which is shared by everybody that works here. “Learning Today for a Better Tomorrow” We all go the extra mile in order to give our pupils the very best chance in life.

Areas of Expertise

 Working in challenging circumstances  Inclusion  Raising Standards  Developing skilled SLT and Middle Leadership Teams  Leadership Support  School Improvement Planning  Subject Leadership  Ofsted preparation  Managing high levels of family Support and social care intervention

Jacqui Young, Head teacher St Stephens CE Primary

Robinson Street, Little Harwood, Blackburn, BB1 5PE

LAESTAB Number: 889/3333

Experience

I am a determined, resilient leader with high expectations ensuring all children receive a range of opportunities and the best education possible in order for them to make choices for their future.

I am currently in my fifteenth year of headship and in my second school as a Head teacher. I began my teaching career in Oldham working in two large infant schools, where I was privileged to be part of a team setting up a brand new school. I was fortunate to experience many development opportunities and was promoted to Deputy Head.

I took on my first headship in Blackburn in a one form entry primary school with 100% Asian heritage pupils and qualified as an LLE before taking up a secondment at a neighbouring school. Whilst in my first post it was acknowledged that the school was one of the most improved nationally.

I have successfully led my current school out of Special Measures to Good (Ofsted 2015) with an Outstanding SIAMs in the same week! The school failed its Ofsted Inspection having just amalgamated to a primary from a separate infant and junior school and moving into a new purpose-built school.

In my current situation I have had considerable experience working with HR: managing staff absence; holding difficult conversations and managing capability; staff disciplinary cases; restructuring all teams of staff and supporting staff to improve in their roles.

I have supported the development of many teachers through appropriate coaching and CPD who have become SLE’s and promoted to higher positions both within my school and as part of the Putting Heads Together programme. I have also valued the skills of support staff and ensured bespoke training has furthered their opportunities to support children effectively.

For the past three years, I have chaired the School Improvement Group, made up of eleven local schools. School to school support and networking at all levels is our focus with a second round of Peer Reviews in progress. Four Head teachers participated in the CfBT (now EDT) Peer Review training and implemented this in our four schools. This expertise is now being cascaded into other schools to support school improvement with a focus on Reading.

Areas of Expertise

 Improving quality of teaching & learning  Church School Distinctiveness in predominantly Muslim area ( currently part of a group looking at the new SIAMs criteria)  Managing attendance/extended leave  Wider opportunities  Parental partnership

Jill Wright, Head teacher Trinity CE Methodist Primary School

Unity Place, Buckshaw Village, Chorley, PR7 7HZ

LAESTAB Number: 888/5207

Experience

I spent my entire classroom-teaching career in schools in Blackburn with Darwen and I returned to my own primary school, St Aidan’s, Mill Hill as Deputy and then Acting Headteacher.

During my time as a school leader, I have been relentless in my pursuit to ensure all pupils achieve their very best and at the heart of this is the quality of relationships within school.

Putting children and their learning at the heart of leadership and management decisions has enabled me to be uncompromising in my expectations of all adults who work in school and makes the most complex and seemingly intractable issue very straightforward and simple.

As Headteacher of St Mary Magdalen’s CE Primary Accrington, from being in Ofsted’s Serious Weakness Category 3 years of high expectations of staff and focused and determined work with some very hard to reach families as well as a clear approach to monitoring and evaluating pupil progress meant that when school was inspected again in 2009 we had rising numbers of children on roll and were graded as Good with Outstanding features.

Since 2010, I have led Trinity CE Methodist Primary School from 90 children in temporary accommodation to currently 550 children over two sites as a 3FE Primary school, establishing a new school community and growing and developing staff’s experience and leadership.

Areas of Expertise

 School improvement  Staff recruitment and development  School reorganisation  Behaviour management systems

Jo Siddle, Head teacher

St Thomas’s Centre

Lambeth Street, Blackburn, BB1 1NA

LAESTAB Number: 889/1100

Experience

I have over 20 years’ experience as a teacher. I started my teaching career as a PE teacher in Wigan, moving to Head of PE in a Faith school in Liverpool. I followed a route of pastoral moving to a Head of Year post in Warrington, then taking my first senior leaders role as Assistant Headteacher of Inclusion within the same school. My desire to close the gap and remove barriers for all pupils led me to take up my first Headship of a Key stage 2/3 Pupil referral unit in Sefton. After three years I became Vice principal of an academy in Manchester responsible for Inclusion, SEND, Attendance and Behaviour. I returned to my passion five years ago as Headteacher of St Thomas’s pupil referral unit which is a through PRU supporting children aged 5 – 16 years. We have recently been judged as an outstanding PRU in our most recent OFSTED inspection in June 2018.

I am currently:

 Lead Headteacher of Blackburn with Darwen special and Alternative provision school improvement group and sit on the Blackburn with Darwen school improvement board  Lead Headteacher for secondary schools within Blackburn with Darwen on the Local safeguarding board  Lead education expert on Lancashire Channel Panel  Lead for the Blackburn with Darwen Social Emotional and Mental Health strategic cross phase network.

Areas of Expertise

 Social Emotional and Mental Health  Inclusion  Behaviour  Attendance  Safeguarding  SEND Mark Geldard, Head teacher Roe Lee Park Primary School

Emerald Avenue, Blackburn, BB1 9RP

LAESTAB number: 889/2015

Experience

I have a wealth of experience from 28 years in the Education sector. During my career I have taught in five very different schools in London Redbridge, Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen and I was a Mathematics Consultant for Lancashire County Council for 2 ½ years. In Blackburn with Darwen I spent 4 ½ years as deputy headteacher at Lammack Primary School before moving down the road to be Head teacher at Roe Lee Park Primary School where I have now been for 10 years.

I have been a mentor to new Head teachers and provided support for local schools on a range of issues such as School Development Planning and guided reading. I work with a very experienced and enthusiastic team of teachers including several Specialist Leaders of Education who have expertise in Science, History, Assessment and outstanding practitioners with significant expertise in Reading, Writing, Phonics and the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Areas of Expertise

 Action planning  Teaching and Learning  Mathematics  Safeguarding  Subject Leader / Middle Leader Development  Health and safety  Guided Reading  Data Analysis (ASP)

Michelle Smith, Headteacher

St Cuthbert’s CE Primary School

St Alban’s Road, Darwen, BB3 OHY

LAESTAB Number: 889/3675

Experience

I am a committed, reflective and experienced leader, continually striving for excellence, with a desire to improve the life chances of all pupils.

I have a wealth of significant teaching and leadership experience having worked in six very different schools in and around Blackburn with Darwen. I have taught children from of all age ranges from Early Years to Year 6. Prior to securing my headship, I had been a deputy for ten years in two schools, one a Church of England primary, where I was also acting head for a short time, and one a three form entry junior school in an area of significant deprivation. I gained my NPQH qualification in 2010 and successfully secured my current Headship in 2014. During the last four years the school has improved significantly moving from an LA school causing concern to securing an Ofsted outstanding judgement in April 2017.

I employ a vast array of strategies for developing and improving teaching and learning including modelling, monitoring, targeted CPD and professional dialogue in order to challenge, support, motivate and enthuse. In addition, St Cuthbert’s has a Resourced Provision for children with significant or complex SEND and as such we specialise in learning curriculum that is personalised and targeted towards individual or specific needs, removing barriers and narrowing gaps.

I am passionate about collaboration and am therefore actively involved with school to school support. As a system leader, I work closely with my local schools to engage on joint school improvement initiatives. Working with an enthusiastic team allows me to share their expertise and develop their leadership skills. Each school has its own unique experiences that shape its future and any issues need to be dealt with sensitively and respectfully. I have mentored and coached both experience and new Headteachers. I am committed to building leadership capacity and retaining outstanding practitioners within the profession and as such support the delivery of a Putting Heads Together programme for aspiring senior leaders within our local area.

Areas of Expertise

 Teaching and learning  SEND and Inclusion – personalised learning and curriculum development support  School improvement  Leadership Development  Monitoring systems  Data/assessment